Apple Seriously Considered Releasing the iPhone With a Hardware Keyboard

Tony Fadell, former Senior Vice President of the iPod Division at Apple, says that the company seriously considered releasing the iPhone with a hardware keyboard in an interview with The Verge.

A hardware keyboard was seriously considered within Apple before the iconic touchscreen-only design was given the green light. He said there were three different versions: an "iPod + Phone," a different iteration that was called the "iPhone," and finally, the device that was ultimately introduced back in January of 2007. As for Fadell's own take on a hardware keyboard? He told the audience tonight that he himself knew the potential of virtual keyboards, and personally wanted to wait to implement one before going with the hardware option. Fadell worked on the iPhone up until the 3GS - and was involved with a whopping 18 generations of the iPod line - before stepping away to start Nest.

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